"The public want leadership, the public are sick and tired of this personal self-interest overriding the national interest all the time."

Mr Kennett told ABC Radio Mr Turnbull had been "trying to build up his own popularity".

"He has been standing aside from his leader, going outside his portfolio, expressing his own views against that of the Cabinet... while in particular the Government was getting on as best they could with governing in difficult circumstances," he said.

Mr Kennett isolated the Government's boat turn-back policy as an example, calling it "perhaps the most humane policy Australia has introduced in years when you look at what's happening in Europe".

He said Mr Abbott's poor results in the polls should not be surprising, given Mr Turnbull has been "out there expressing a different view from this leader for two years".

"Can I remind you, I took on government here in Victoria in difficult circumstances," he said.